By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL –Ralph Markham, of Maple Park, has been on the ultimate winning streak so far in 2007. In just five races he has managed to visit the winners circle an impressive four times. A much different year compared to last season where he fell shy of even one victory.
Mother Nature stole the thunder last Saturday at La Salle Speedway when she rained out the Modified $2,000 special but her attempts to soak the Late Model Euclid Beverage Triple Crown Series fell short. The only thing she did due was strike out the scoreboard with her lightning on Friday night.
Twenty one Late Model’s signed in for the first round of the series. First up the competitors traveled two qualifying laps with the scorers keeping the fastest time to determine their dash and feature starting positions. La Salle’s Mike Glynn earned the fastest qualifying lap with a time of 13.785
To determine the top six for the feature grid, the division competed in a six car dash that was lined up using an invert. In other words, the fastest qualifier Glynn started the event sixth while the sixth quickest, Darin Furar was on the pole next to Tonica’s Eric Dauber.
When the green was signaled Dauber was out front with Furar in a close second. Glynn, Markham and Steve Oeder were three wide for third early.
At the finish it was Dauber earning the feature pole with the dash win ahead of Furar, Glynn, Markham, Scott Schmitt then Oeder.
The 75 lapper’s first six starting positions were now set. Dauber would host the pole on the inside of Furar. Glynn and Markham rolled up in row two.
In past year’s, the longer race has always proven to be a crowd pleaser, this event would prove to be no different. Dauber set the pace quicker then we have seen in the division this season. By the sixth lap out, he was already distancing himself from Markham, Furar and Glynn who were well into a fight for third. A caution around Lap 7 slowed the moment and brought the field back to single file format.
Without a scoreboard, to easily identify the number of laps in the books, it was difficult to have an exact lap number when the events took place. In addition, the yellow laps are counted during this longer race until the final ten laps.
Each time a caution is signaled, and the cars cross the start/finish line under yellow, the lap is added to the total number scored. There were a lot of cautions especially during the first half of the race making it difficult for the drivers and fans to keep track of how many had already been scored.
“I never saw the half way flag and then I saw him (flagman) wave the green and was surprised,” Markham explained after the race. Markham wasn’t alone as it became a challenge trying to figure out what lap we were on.
Near Lap 14, the field was just getting back to green flag racing when another caution slowed the pace.
Just after the return to green, Markham got under Dauber and took the lead but Dauber was hot on a higher line and took it right back. Glynn and Furar were side by side with Glynn grabbing third, temporarily as yet another caution ended their duel.
While the top four were on the move, so was Schmitt as he used every inch of the track en route to the front. It was pretty common to see him three wheeling the turns and riding his tires over the highest berm of the track.
He could gain ground but then would loose several positions at a time.
Around Lap 25, as Dauber approached lapped traffic, Markham made an aggressive move with two lapped cars and the leader. He stole the lead like a bandit in the night then slid his tail in front of Dauber not giving an inch of racing surface for him to make a run to get the lead back.
From this point forward the race was for second on back as Markham was untouchable and could drive any line he chose.
“The car felt good wherever I put it,” Markham explained. “Low, high it worked well anywhere on the track tonight.”
By Lap 32, Glynn was on the low side of Dauber with the two in a door to door battle.
“I had a lot of fun running with those guys tonight,” Dauber said after the race.
Glynn took over the runner up spot but Dauber was still in the game and powered back a couple laps later. This time it was Glynn fighting off attempts from Schmitt, Oeder and Furar for third.
The four of them diced it up back and fourth until Schmitt brought out a caution with mechanical woes around Lap 45.
With about fourteen laps still to go, seventeen cars were left to compete after the final caution.
Markham continued to distance himself in lapped traffic while Dauber, Oeder, Glynn and Furar put on a great show to the finish line.
Dauber claimed a hard fought second over Oeder, Glynn, Furar, Aaron Schmidt and Ed Williams Sr. Keith Piano finished his run in eighth ahead of John Piccatto, Jim Loomis, Mark Larson, Dave Miller, Billy Weistart Jr., Lake Knutti, Joe Fratt, Brian Lock and Jeff Small.
UMP Open Wheel Modified star Milo Veloz Jr. made a clean sweep of the night’s activities.
The Colona driver posted the quickest lap with a time of 14.615, then held off Jim Phelps of Peru for both the heat win and the feature checkers.
His triumphant night of racing earned him his fourth feature win for only the fifth night of racing.
Veloz started on the front row inside next to Ray Bollinger, of Kewaunee.
Veloz was on fire from flag to flag while Bollinger and Phelps worked side by side until Phelps took the second place run over.
At the finish, Phelps scored second ahead of Bollinger, Nathan Balensiefen, Jeremy Gustaf, Theodorf, Mike Dyas, Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mark Novorolsky, Mark Vervynck, Joe Adam, Tom Otrembiak, and Mike Ahlgren.
Veloz and Bollinger each won their Heat races.
Twenty Street Stock’s lined up for the feature race with Oglesby contender Nick Sell on the pole next to Mike Stewart.
Sell was fast off the blocks with Gary Schmitt and Justin Rutledge following. Sell sailed through the corners completely in command of the field. Around Lap 15, Ed Williams Jr. got into the back of Sell getting him loose and out of his line. Schmitt took over the point but a caution was signaled before the lap was scored.
Sell got his spot back with Williams and Schmitt behind him.
With only a few laps un-scored, Williams clipped Sell’s back bumper hard and sent him into a spin halting his impressive efforts. Sell stopped on the edge of the track but no yellow was granted for the displaced leader.
Schmitt quickly saw the opening and charged up to the helm en route to his first win of the season.
Williams collected second over Rutledge, #76, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers, Jay Mesarchik, Steve Lewis, Timmy Loomis, Mike Stewart, #621, Rick Koltveit, Billy Dauber, Steve Schwemlein, Mark Kurrle and Nick Sell.
DJ Werkmeister won his third race of the season in the 4 Cylinder Hornet class. This youngster has been on a rampage staking claims to the division at several tracks in Illinois.
Roy Alm finished second in front of Gabe Koncor, Mark Sutton, Eric Bourdeau, Kyle Fisher, Asa Robart, Don Slover, Jimmy Johnson, Travis Mahoney, Cory West and Don Widdicombe.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 6/2/07
Late Model – 21 Cars
Qualifying: Mike Glynn 13.785
Fast Car Dash: Eric Dauber, Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham
Feature: Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Steve Oeder, Mike Glynn, Darin Furar, Aaron Schmidt, Ed Williams Sr., Keith Piano, John Piccatto, Jim Loomis, Mark Larson, Dave Miller, Billy Weistart Jr., Lake Knutti, Joe Fratt, Brian Lock, Jeff Small, Scott Schmitt, Robert Voice, Andrew Atkinson, Eric Rebholz
UMP Modifieds – 14 Cars
Qualifying: Milo Veloz 14.615
Heat One: Milo Veloz, Jim Phelps, Jeremy Gustaf, Nathan Balensiefen Heat Two: Ray Bollinger, Bill Theodorf, Joe Adam, Mike Dyas
Feature: Milo Veloz, Jim Phelps, Ray Bollinger, Nathan Balensiefen, Jeremy Gustaf, Bill Theodorf, Mike Dyas, Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mark Novorolsky, Mark Novorolsky, Mark Vervynck, Joe Adam, Tom Otrembiak, Mike Ahlgren
UMP Street Stocks – 20 Cars
Heat One: Nick Sell, Mike Stewart, Roger Rickels, Justin Rutledge Heat Two: Gary Schmitt, Rick Koltveit, Jim Loomis, Ed Williams Jr.
Feature: Gary Schmitt, Ed Williams Jr., Justin Rutledge, #76, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers, Jay Mesarchik, Steve Lewis, Timmy Loomis, Mike Stewart, #621, Rick Koltveit, Billy Dauber, Steve Schweimlen, Mark Kurrle, Nick Sell, Mike Hughes, Roger Rickels, Alex Clubb, Stan Daigger
UMP Hornets – Over 20 Cars
Heat One: Roy Alm, Jon Small, Gabe Koncor, Kyle Fisher Heat Two: DJ Wekmeister, Dan Leonard, Jamie Deford, Jim Lazier Heat Three: Asa Robart, Mark Sutton, Phil Burdette, Travis Mahoney
Feature: DJ Werkmeister, Roy Alm, Gabe Koncor, Mark Sutton, Eric Bourdeau, Kyle Fisher, Asa Robart, Don Slover, Jimmy Johnson, Travis Mahoney, Cory West, Dan Widdicombe, #J14, #4, Jamie Deford, Dan Leonard, Phil Burdette, Jon Small, Jim Lazier
La Salle, IL –Ralph Markham, of Maple Park, has been on the ultimate winning streak so far in 2007. In just five races he has managed to visit the winners circle an impressive four times. A much different year compared to last season where he fell shy of even one victory.
Mother Nature stole the thunder last Saturday at La Salle Speedway when she rained out the Modified $2,000 special but her attempts to soak the Late Model Euclid Beverage Triple Crown Series fell short. The only thing she did due was strike out the scoreboard with her lightning on Friday night.
Twenty one Late Model’s signed in for the first round of the series. First up the competitors traveled two qualifying laps with the scorers keeping the fastest time to determine their dash and feature starting positions. La Salle’s Mike Glynn earned the fastest qualifying lap with a time of 13.785
To determine the top six for the feature grid, the division competed in a six car dash that was lined up using an invert. In other words, the fastest qualifier Glynn started the event sixth while the sixth quickest, Darin Furar was on the pole next to Tonica’s Eric Dauber.
When the green was signaled Dauber was out front with Furar in a close second. Glynn, Markham and Steve Oeder were three wide for third early.
At the finish it was Dauber earning the feature pole with the dash win ahead of Furar, Glynn, Markham, Scott Schmitt then Oeder.
The 75 lapper’s first six starting positions were now set. Dauber would host the pole on the inside of Furar. Glynn and Markham rolled up in row two.
In past year’s, the longer race has always proven to be a crowd pleaser, this event would prove to be no different. Dauber set the pace quicker then we have seen in the division this season. By the sixth lap out, he was already distancing himself from Markham, Furar and Glynn who were well into a fight for third. A caution around Lap 7 slowed the moment and brought the field back to single file format.
Without a scoreboard, to easily identify the number of laps in the books, it was difficult to have an exact lap number when the events took place. In addition, the yellow laps are counted during this longer race until the final ten laps.
Each time a caution is signaled, and the cars cross the start/finish line under yellow, the lap is added to the total number scored. There were a lot of cautions especially during the first half of the race making it difficult for the drivers and fans to keep track of how many had already been scored.
“I never saw the half way flag and then I saw him (flagman) wave the green and was surprised,” Markham explained after the race. Markham wasn’t alone as it became a challenge trying to figure out what lap we were on.
Near Lap 14, the field was just getting back to green flag racing when another caution slowed the pace.
Just after the return to green, Markham got under Dauber and took the lead but Dauber was hot on a higher line and took it right back. Glynn and Furar were side by side with Glynn grabbing third, temporarily as yet another caution ended their duel.
While the top four were on the move, so was Schmitt as he used every inch of the track en route to the front. It was pretty common to see him three wheeling the turns and riding his tires over the highest berm of the track.
He could gain ground but then would loose several positions at a time.
Around Lap 25, as Dauber approached lapped traffic, Markham made an aggressive move with two lapped cars and the leader. He stole the lead like a bandit in the night then slid his tail in front of Dauber not giving an inch of racing surface for him to make a run to get the lead back.
From this point forward the race was for second on back as Markham was untouchable and could drive any line he chose.
“The car felt good wherever I put it,” Markham explained. “Low, high it worked well anywhere on the track tonight.”
By Lap 32, Glynn was on the low side of Dauber with the two in a door to door battle.
“I had a lot of fun running with those guys tonight,” Dauber said after the race.
Glynn took over the runner up spot but Dauber was still in the game and powered back a couple laps later. This time it was Glynn fighting off attempts from Schmitt, Oeder and Furar for third.
The four of them diced it up back and fourth until Schmitt brought out a caution with mechanical woes around Lap 45.
With about fourteen laps still to go, seventeen cars were left to compete after the final caution.
Markham continued to distance himself in lapped traffic while Dauber, Oeder, Glynn and Furar put on a great show to the finish line.
Dauber claimed a hard fought second over Oeder, Glynn, Furar, Aaron Schmidt and Ed Williams Sr. Keith Piano finished his run in eighth ahead of John Piccatto, Jim Loomis, Mark Larson, Dave Miller, Billy Weistart Jr., Lake Knutti, Joe Fratt, Brian Lock and Jeff Small.
UMP Open Wheel Modified star Milo Veloz Jr. made a clean sweep of the night’s activities.
The Colona driver posted the quickest lap with a time of 14.615, then held off Jim Phelps of Peru for both the heat win and the feature checkers.
His triumphant night of racing earned him his fourth feature win for only the fifth night of racing.
Veloz started on the front row inside next to Ray Bollinger, of Kewaunee.
Veloz was on fire from flag to flag while Bollinger and Phelps worked side by side until Phelps took the second place run over.
At the finish, Phelps scored second ahead of Bollinger, Nathan Balensiefen, Jeremy Gustaf, Theodorf, Mike Dyas, Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mark Novorolsky, Mark Vervynck, Joe Adam, Tom Otrembiak, and Mike Ahlgren.
Veloz and Bollinger each won their Heat races.
Twenty Street Stock’s lined up for the feature race with Oglesby contender Nick Sell on the pole next to Mike Stewart.
Sell was fast off the blocks with Gary Schmitt and Justin Rutledge following. Sell sailed through the corners completely in command of the field. Around Lap 15, Ed Williams Jr. got into the back of Sell getting him loose and out of his line. Schmitt took over the point but a caution was signaled before the lap was scored.
Sell got his spot back with Williams and Schmitt behind him.
With only a few laps un-scored, Williams clipped Sell’s back bumper hard and sent him into a spin halting his impressive efforts. Sell stopped on the edge of the track but no yellow was granted for the displaced leader.
Schmitt quickly saw the opening and charged up to the helm en route to his first win of the season.
Williams collected second over Rutledge, #76, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers, Jay Mesarchik, Steve Lewis, Timmy Loomis, Mike Stewart, #621, Rick Koltveit, Billy Dauber, Steve Schwemlein, Mark Kurrle and Nick Sell.
DJ Werkmeister won his third race of the season in the 4 Cylinder Hornet class. This youngster has been on a rampage staking claims to the division at several tracks in Illinois.
Roy Alm finished second in front of Gabe Koncor, Mark Sutton, Eric Bourdeau, Kyle Fisher, Asa Robart, Don Slover, Jimmy Johnson, Travis Mahoney, Cory West and Don Widdicombe.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 6/2/07
Late Model – 21 Cars
Qualifying: Mike Glynn 13.785
Fast Car Dash: Eric Dauber, Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham
Feature: Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Steve Oeder, Mike Glynn, Darin Furar, Aaron Schmidt, Ed Williams Sr., Keith Piano, John Piccatto, Jim Loomis, Mark Larson, Dave Miller, Billy Weistart Jr., Lake Knutti, Joe Fratt, Brian Lock, Jeff Small, Scott Schmitt, Robert Voice, Andrew Atkinson, Eric Rebholz
UMP Modifieds – 14 Cars
Qualifying: Milo Veloz 14.615
Heat One: Milo Veloz, Jim Phelps, Jeremy Gustaf, Nathan Balensiefen Heat Two: Ray Bollinger, Bill Theodorf, Joe Adam, Mike Dyas
Feature: Milo Veloz, Jim Phelps, Ray Bollinger, Nathan Balensiefen, Jeremy Gustaf, Bill Theodorf, Mike Dyas, Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mark Novorolsky, Mark Novorolsky, Mark Vervynck, Joe Adam, Tom Otrembiak, Mike Ahlgren
UMP Street Stocks – 20 Cars
Heat One: Nick Sell, Mike Stewart, Roger Rickels, Justin Rutledge Heat Two: Gary Schmitt, Rick Koltveit, Jim Loomis, Ed Williams Jr.
Feature: Gary Schmitt, Ed Williams Jr., Justin Rutledge, #76, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers, Jay Mesarchik, Steve Lewis, Timmy Loomis, Mike Stewart, #621, Rick Koltveit, Billy Dauber, Steve Schweimlen, Mark Kurrle, Nick Sell, Mike Hughes, Roger Rickels, Alex Clubb, Stan Daigger
UMP Hornets – Over 20 Cars
Heat One: Roy Alm, Jon Small, Gabe Koncor, Kyle Fisher Heat Two: DJ Wekmeister, Dan Leonard, Jamie Deford, Jim Lazier Heat Three: Asa Robart, Mark Sutton, Phil Burdette, Travis Mahoney
Feature: DJ Werkmeister, Roy Alm, Gabe Koncor, Mark Sutton, Eric Bourdeau, Kyle Fisher, Asa Robart, Don Slover, Jimmy Johnson, Travis Mahoney, Cory West, Dan Widdicombe, #J14, #4, Jamie Deford, Dan Leonard, Phil Burdette, Jon Small, Jim Lazier
